8 Comments
Oct 7Liked by Joseph Bottum

And all that in addition to the fact that his name is Bliss.

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Oh to find a new stanza and the excitement to use it...

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Oct 1Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

Sorry I meant New Brunswick (horrified emoji needed)! Later, they all moved westward to BC...

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Oct 1Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

Thank you, great, evocative poem. Bliss Carmen was a favorite of the cowboy poets and fireside raconteurs of my childhood. My grandfather was from the same town (Fredericton) in British Columbia - they call it Poet's Corner of Canada - and had all his poems memorized. This brings back so many memories.

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Oct 1Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

Carman is still thought highly of in Canada (at least in academic circles), where a national prize for poetry is named for him.

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Oct 1Liked by Joseph Bottum, Sally Thomas

There is something about autumn, that sets the scene ablaze. See it as a wonderful, joyful, almost ecstatic show, by nature. Yes, the dead of winter awaits, but what a show of splendor, before the fall is through.

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Oct 1Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

I love October, and this poem captures why beautifully.

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Oct 1Liked by Joseph Bottum, Sally Thomas

Again, I am thankful to this Substack for introducing me to another poet and poem I have never heard of before!

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